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Chamberlin Edmonds and Associates to help improve patient access to state and federal benefit programs

Chamberlin Edmonds and Associates, Inc., a leading provider of comprehensive patient eligibility services to hospitals, today announced that it was selected by Sky Lakes Medical Center (Klamath Falls, Ore.) to help improve patient access to state and federal benefit programs. Eligibility specialists from Chamberlin Edmonds will work at the hospital to guide patients through complex application processes to secure federal and state benefits for medical care.

14 Oct 2009

Connexin Software announces updated EMR software version to support H1N1 vaccine administration

With initial shipments of the much anticipated H1N1 vaccine arriving in doctors’ offices last week, Connexin Software today announced it is delivering an expedited update of its Office Practicum pediatric EMR with features to support the special forecasting, administration, and billing requirements of the new vaccine.

14 Oct 2009

Public option viable despite the Senate Finance Committee vote

Robert Weiner, former Chief of Staff of the House Committee on Aging and Health Subcommittee, said the public option remains viable despite the Senate Finance Committee vote today.

14 Oct 2009

Seniors and people with disabilities to choose new healthcare coverage

More than 600,000 seniors and people with disabilities will be required to choose new healthcare coverage during the upcoming Medicare annual enrollment because their current plan is being eliminated. However, millions more could benefit by changing to a plan that better fits their needs, according to Allsup, a nationwide provider of Social Security disability representation and Medicare services.

14 Oct 2009

Use of minimally invasive procedures for radical prostatectomy has advantages as well as complications

New research indicates that the use of minimally invasive procedures (including the use of robotic assistance) for radical prostatectomy, which have increased significantly in recent years, may shorten hospital stays and decrease respiratory and surgical complications, but may also result in an increased rate of certain complications, including incontinence and erectile dysfunction, according to a study in the October 14 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on surgical care.

14 Oct 2009

CAHI releases statement on Senate health care reform proposal

Critics are up in arms over America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) daring to speak the truth about the Senate health care reform proposal, and we applaud the organization's efforts. If anything AHIP's analysis of health premium increases is too low. Supporters of the health bills are simply ignoring years of states' evidence of many of these proposed Senate and House health reforms.

14 Oct 2009

Patients at highly rated hospitals have a 52% lower chance of dying: Study

The largest annual study of patient outcomes at each of the nation’s 5,000 nonfederal hospitals found a wide gap in quality between the nation’s best hospitals and all others. According to the study, issued today by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization, patients at highly rated hospitals have a 52 percent lower chance of dying compared with the U.S. hospital average, a quality chasm that has persisted for the last decade even as mortality rates, in general, have declined.

14 Oct 2009

Mayo's decision to limit patients makes it a poor model, critics say

The Mayo Clinic has started limiting the number of Medicare and Medicaid patients it admits and critics argue that such restrictions have made Mayo too selective to serve as a model for health-care reform.

14 Oct 2009

Conseco complies with Regulation FD, to post certain important information on its website

Conseco, Inc. announced today that, in compliance with Regulation FD and to ensure that all investors have equal access to information, it will post certain important information on its website after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.

14 Oct 2009

Financial advisers help wealthy Americans navigate Medicare

Wealthy Americans are increasingly seeking help on how to navigate the Medicare system from financial advisers.

14 Oct 2009

Aetna ends two Medicare advantage programs while a Medicare experiment grabs attention

A health insurer ends two Medicare Advantage programs in Connecticut, while providers nationwide examine a Medicare demonstration program in Texas.

14 Oct 2009

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

"Yes, we are going to crack down on health insurance company abuses and extend health insurance coverage. But, just as important, we are going to give our citizens access to a 21st century health care system — one that is focused on preventing obesity and disease, and helping us to live healthy, active, productive lives" (Sen. Tom Harkin, 10/12).

14 Oct 2009

Core administrative costs in Medicaid plans decreases by 1.4% in 2008: SEER study

Core per member administrative costs in Medicaid plans decreased by 1.4% in 2008, compared with 8.2% in 2007. Adjusting for changes in product mix, administrative expenses grew by 1.4% in 2008 compared with 4.2% in 2007.

14 Oct 2009

Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings to raise $550 million through private placement

Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings Corp. today announced that it has commenced an offering through a private placement of $550 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2016 (the “Notes”). Talecris intends to use the proceeds from the offering to repay its First and Second Lien Term Loans, repay a portion of borrowings under its Revolving Credit Facility, and to pay related fees and expenses.

13 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 13, 2009

All eyes are watching for the outcome of today's Senate Finance Committee health bill vote. Will the measure pass? How will Sen. Olympia Snowe vote? And what about that insurance industry report?

13 Oct 2009

Good Samaritan Hospital tops HealthGrade ratings for stroke treatment and joint replacement

A study issued today by HealthGrades, Inc., the leading independent healthcare ratings organization, finds that Good Samaritan Hospital is among the Top 5% in the Nation for Treatment of Stroke and Top 10% in the Nation for Joint Replacement. The nation’s nearly 5,000 nonfederal hospitals were all included in the sweeping study, which examined mortality rates and complication rates from government data from 2006, 2007 and 2008.

13 Oct 2009

Premier healthcare alliance adds seven new suppliers in its supplier diversity program

The Premier healthcare alliance today announced that seven new hospital supplier agreements have been launched in its supplier diversity program aimed at increasing the number of small, diverse and regional enterprises doing business with members of the Premier alliance.

13 Oct 2009

Patient outcomes better in highly rated hospitals than others

The largest annual study of patient outcomes at each of the nation's 5,000 nonfederal hospitals found a wide gap in quality between the nation's best hospitals and all others. According to the study, issued today by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization, patients at highly rated hospitals have a 52 percent lower chance of dying compared with the U.S. hospital average, a quality chasm that has persisted for the last decade even as mortality rates, in general, have declined.

13 Oct 2009

Premier Purchasing Partners awards new agreements for blood bank analyzers

Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, today announced new agreements for blood bank analyzers, reagents, consumables and service have been awarded to Biotest Diagnostics Corporation of Rockaway, N.J.; and Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. of Piscataway, N.J., contracting on behalf of Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. of Raritan, N.J.

13 Oct 2009

Kidney Care Partners commends CBC for supporting reforms to improve access to quality kidney care

Kidney Care Partners - an alliance of patient advocates, dialysis professionals, care providers and manufacturers working together to improve quality of care for individuals with kidney disease and kidney failure - today applauded the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) for supporting reforms that will improve patient access and choice in receiving quality kidney care.

13 Oct 2009

Medicare News and Research

Chamberlin Edmonds and Associates to help improve patient access to state and federal benefit programs

Connexin Software announces updated EMR software version to support H1N1 vaccine administration

Public option viable despite the Senate Finance Committee vote

Seniors and people with disabilities to choose new healthcare coverage

Use of minimally invasive procedures for radical prostatectomy has advantages as well as complications

CAHI releases statement on Senate health care reform proposal

Patients at highly rated hospitals have a 52% lower chance of dying: Study

Mayo's decision to limit patients makes it a poor model, critics say

Conseco complies with Regulation FD, to post certain important information on its website

Financial advisers help wealthy Americans navigate Medicare

Aetna ends two Medicare advantage programs while a Medicare experiment grabs attention

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

Core administrative costs in Medicaid plans decreases by 1.4% in 2008: SEER study

Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings to raise $550 million through private placement

First Edition: October 13, 2009

Good Samaritan Hospital tops HealthGrade ratings for stroke treatment and joint replacement

Premier healthcare alliance adds seven new suppliers in its supplier diversity program

Patient outcomes better in highly rated hospitals than others

Premier Purchasing Partners awards new agreements for blood bank analyzers

Kidney Care Partners commends CBC for supporting reforms to improve access to quality kidney care

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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